The Saints are moving to the 3-4 scheme with or without Ryan as coordinator, which would make Spencer an attractive free-agent fit anyway. By adding Ryan to the mix, the Saints would be an even more likely destination for Spencer, who had his best season under Ryan.

Look at Ryan’s run with the Cowboys as an example. In 2011, the Cowboys signed Kenyon Coleman and Abram Elam, in part because of their pasts with Ryan in Cleveland. In 2012, the Cowboys signed Brodney Pool, who played for Ryan but lasted just a week or so into training camp.

So ask for their 1st in 2014. Teams seem more willing to trade future picks and in Spencer's case I think ke would be a hot commodity.

This makes the most sense to me as well. Tag him & trade him for a future first.

Honestly, outside of the obvious pick, which first round pick is going to be better at OLB than Spencer? I think teams would much rather trade for a known quantity than take their chances spending the same pick on an unknown quantity.

Maybe I am missing something here but why would NO need to trade for him. They know Dallas doesn't have cap space to resign him and if Ryan lands in NO that would give them big advantage of signing Spencer even if another team offers him money.

Maybe I am missing something here but why would NO need to trade for him. They know Dallas doesn't have cap space to resign him and if Ryan lands in NO that would give them big advantage of signing Spencer even if another team offers him money.

They may want to avoid a bidding war. Plenty of 3-4 teams out there. Spencer being the obvious cut position doesn't guarantee anything for New Orleans.

Maybe I am missing something here but why would NO need to trade for him. They know Dallas doesn't have cap space to resign him and if Ryan lands in NO that would give them big advantage of signing Spencer even if another team offers him money.

So another team doesn't trade for him. If we Franchise him and let it known we want to trade him, teams will call. If NO wants him then they better offer something. NYJ, Ravens, packers, Cards, could all be wanting him also.

Its not "stupid" to let him walk. Were the Panthers "stupid" for letting Peppers go or were the Texans "stupid" to let Mario Williams walk? Its what the NFL is in this free agency era. People bring up the Patriots because they were smart enough to take advantage of the Raiders stupidity. And then out of all those players they traded they didn't even do anything with those draft picks.

Its not "stupid" to let him walk. Were the Panthers "stupid" for letting Peppers go or were the Texans "stupid" to let Mario Williams walk? Its what the NFL is in this free agency era. People bring up the Patriots because they were smart enough to take advantage of the Raiders stupidity. And then out of all those players they traded they didn't even do anything with those draft picks.

They drafted Nate Solder who looks pretty good and is the LT of the New England OL that everyone is also so envious of.

Seems like something to me.

In any event, I'm not sure who they draft is relevant. Even if we count Solder as a wasted pick, what does that have to do with anything?